Prosperity
Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This…
Read More: Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’s notoriously high level of regulation is a burden on our state economy. To make the Keystone State a competitive place to live, work, or grow a business, reforms are needed to rein in the regulatory process. Taxpayers deserve a streamlined regulatory process that scrutinizes proposed regulations to ensure frivolous reforms do not overburden the state economy and do not prevent job-seekers from accessing employment.
Regulation
Liquor Privatization (House Bill 11)
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board serves as the monopolistic seller of wine and spirits in the commonwealth. Rep. Mike Turzai introduced House Bill 11 to sell off the PLCB's retail…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Liquor Privatization (House Bill 11)Regulation
Commonwealth Foundation Creates ‘Liquor Liberty’ Web Site
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation launched today www.LetFreedomDrink.com, a Web site dedicated to removing state government and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board from its monopoly stranglehold over retail and…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Creates ‘Liquor Liberty’ Web SiteRegulation
Poll: Support for Private Liquor Stores, Marcellus Drilling
The latest Quinnipiac poll shows strong support for liquor store privatization, Marcellus Shale drilling (as well as natural gas tax); and for the first time asks Pennsylvanians if they…
Media
Read More: Poll: Support for Private Liquor Stores, Marcellus DrillingRegulation
Lessons for Pennsylvania from Jersey Shore
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently nixed a tax credit for production of MTV’s Jersey Shore. This is a TV show that apparently doesn’t portray New Jersey in the…
Media
Read More: Lessons for Pennsylvania from Jersey ShorePublic Union Democracy
New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to Work
New polling conducted by Douglas E. Schoen, LLC for the Manhattan Institute nationally and in 10 targeted states shows widespread bipartisan support to reduce state government spending rather than…
Media
Read More: New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to WorkRegulation
Wasteful Wine Wizards Cork Kiosk Caper!
Put a cork in it! That’s apparently what the Sultans of Syrah said suddenly today as they will pull the putrid pinot plug on the wasteful wine kiosk catastrophe.
Media
Read More: Wasteful Wine Wizards Cork Kiosk Caper!Regulation
Public-Private Parking Prevents Tax Hikes
Facing immense fiscal and political pressures, many local governments are looking for ways to fund services without raising taxes. But officials need not curb their enthusiasm for fiscal responsibility if…
Commentary
Read More: Public-Private Parking Prevents Tax HikesRegulation
13 Reasons Why Government-Sold Booze Fails
America was built upon a free-market system where citizens were free to make purchasing decisions in a competitive market without excessive government oversight or taxation. Sadly, that's not true for…
Poll
Read More: 13 Reasons Why Government-Sold Booze FailsRegulation
Cabernet Kings Couldn’t Count!
All together now, Pennsylvania: Ninety-nine bottle of booze in a box, 99 bottles of booze, blow in a tube, look like a rube, still 99 bottles of booze in a…
Media
Read More: Cabernet Kings Couldn’t Count!Regulation
Licensing Regulations Drives Out Entrepreneurs
A Morning Call article brings to light the anti-entrepreneurship policy of occupational licensing. The article focuses on fines imposed on folks trying, in most cases, to earn a living:…
Media
Read More: Licensing Regulations Drives Out EntrepreneursRegulation
The State of Inconvenience
Walk into any supermarket in Ohio and you can see shoppers purchasing everything they need for dinner - including the wine to go with it. In West Virginia, residents can…
Commentary
Read More: The State of InconveniencePublic Union Democracy
Senseless Regulations Cause Job Loss
Tuesday’s Pennsylvania Independent article on the new state independent contract rules demonstrates the clear need for regulatory streamlining in the commonwealth. After Deborah Webster’s husband lost his job,…
Media
Read More: Senseless Regulations Cause Job LossRegulation
Rick Perry, Corporate Welfare and Pennsylvania
Texas Governor and Presidential Candidate Rick Perry has taken some flak recently for “job creation” funds, which largely direct taxpayer funds to corporations and special projects. This is commonly…
Media
Read More: Rick Perry, Corporate Welfare and PennsylvaniaRegulation
Pennsylvania Lost $5 Billion in Annual Income from Residents Movin’ Out
When it comes to interstate migration, Pennsylvania is among the biggest losers of residents and the income they earn, according to a Tax Foundation map using IRS data. Between…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lost $5 Billion in Annual Income from Residents Movin’ OutRegulation
Fact of the Day: Wine and Spirits Prices in Pennsylvania & Border States
Today, CF released a fact sheet on government-run liquor stores, including a comparison of average wine and…
Media
Read More: Fact of the Day: Wine and Spirits Prices in Pennsylvania & Border StatesRegulation
CF Study: Booze Border Bleed Loses Billions in Taxes, Sales
The Commonwealth Foundation released today a price comparison study showing average wine prices were cheaper in all Pennsylvania border states…
Press Release
Read More: CF Study: Booze Border Bleed Loses Billions in Taxes, SalesRegulation
The Failure of Government-run Liquor Stores
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is the exclusive wholesaler and retailer of wine and spirits in the commonwealth. A current proposal would get the government out of the business…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Failure of Government-run Liquor StoresPublic Union Democracy
Big Labor’s Stranglehold in Pennsylvania
Here’s a depressing, if unsurprising, statistic: In a new index assessing whether states favor government union bosses or taxpayers, Pennsylvania ranks 5th worst. The Competitive Enterprise Institute ranked…
Media
Read More: Big Labor’s Stranglehold in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Wine Kiosks: One of These Things is Not Like the Others
Yesterday, Auditor General Jack Wagner released an audit of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s wine kiosk program. Following that, PLCB CEO Joe Conti talked with capitol reporters. In the…
Media
Read More: Wine Kiosks: One of These Things is Not Like the OthersRegulation
Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships
Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched political fire, claiming "privateers" would exploit…
Commentary
Read More: Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private PartnershipsRegulation
This Is What a Boom Looks Like
About half an hour ago, I was in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. (For my fellow natives of the Philadelphia area, Canonsburg is southwest of Pittsburgh, where they say “younse” instead of “youse”…
Media
Read More: This Is What a Boom Looks Like